Ben Stokes initially refused to shake hands with Ravindra Jadeja after the drawn Manchester Test between India and England.
Tensions Flare as Jadeja, Sundar Deny Stokes’ Call to End Drawn Test
The Manchester Test between India and England ended in a draw, but the final day was anything but uneventful. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar stitched together an unbeaten 203-run partnership for the fifth wicket, frustrating England and especially their captain Ben Stokes. With a result out of reach, Stokes approached the Indian batters, suggesting they call off the game. However, Jadeja and Sundar, both nearing centuries, declined.
What followed was a heated exchange. Stokes, visibly unhappy with India continuing for personal milestones, exchanged sharp words with Jadeja. Even England’s Harry Brook and Zak Crawley joined in. In a symbolic gesture, Stokes introduced part-time bowlers like Brook and Joe Root into the attack, turning the closing overs into what some observers called a “farce.”
Once both Jadeja and Sundar reached their centuries, they initiated the handshake by approaching England and the umpires. But newly surfaced footage shows Stokes initially refusing to shake Jadeja’s hand—choosing instead to greet Sundar and his teammates. When Jadeja confronted him, Stokes reluctantly offered a handshake but avoided eye contact, signaling lingering tension over the episode.
benstokes refused to handshake jadeja and washii
— sachin gurjar (@SachinGurj91435) July 27, 2025
😭😭#INDvsENGTest #INDvsEND pic.twitter.com/6RiL9eropB
Sanjay Manjrekar reacts to Ben Stokes fuming
After the dramatic draw in the Manchester Test, tempers simmered beneath the surface as tensions between Ravindra Jadeja and Ben Stokes came to light. Speaking on JioStar, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar revealed the behind-the-scenes exchange. “After the match, Jadeja went to Ben Stokes to shake hands, and Ben was still fuming,” Manjrekar said. “When the actual discussion was happening and Ben was throwing a tantrum, Jadeja handled it really well. He was smiling and said, ‘Come on, I am just waiting for people to tell me from inside.’”
But when Jadeja approached Stokes again after the game and was coldly snubbed, the Indian all-rounder finally lost his temper—a stark contrast to his earlier composure.
At the post-match presentation, both captains weighed in. Ben Stokes defended his decision to end the game early, stating he didn’t want to overbowl his main bowlers. Shubman Gill, meanwhile, stood by Jadeja and Sundar, praising them for their efforts and asserting they fully deserved the opportunity to play for their personal milestones.
The draw was a hard-earned result for India, powered by gritty performances from KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, and Sundar. With the series now poised at 2-1 in England’s favor, the final showdown at The Oval begins Thursday, July 31, offering India a chance to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.